Tectonic Plate Shifts Create Problems for GPS in Australia

Map coordinates are off by as much as five feet, geoscientists tell Reuters.

Australia is literally on the move, and it's adversely affecting GPS in the country.

As Reuters notes, Australia sits on the world's fastest-moving continental tectonic plate and moves north at a relatively fast pace, according to geoscientists. They believe Australia has moved about five feet in the last 20 years, creating an issue for anyone seeking directions via GPS.

Australia's current position is based on maps from 1994, on which most major navigation systems rely, Reuters says. What's worse, Australia continues to move north at about 3 inches a year, making the GPS systems even less accurate as time goes on.

The issue wasn't always a major one, but the shift means those who use GPS systems in Australia have been wondering why their destinations aren't accurate.

For those with a terrible sense of direction, an update will roll out in 2017. Geoscientists who spoke to Reuters said they're planning to recalibrate the maps next year in what they call the Geocentric Datum of Australia. The new calculations will get Australia's location down to the millimeter, making GPS systems accurate again.